Prepare yourselves, aspiring engineers and demolition enthusiasts, for a journey into the wonderfully chaotic world of Besiege. This captivating sandbox game throws you headfirst into a medieval setting where the only limit is your imagination (and perhaps the laws of physics). Forget about meticulously crafted narratives or pre-defined objectives. Here, it’s all about building outrageous contraptions, besieging unsuspecting castles, and indulging in the sheer joy of destruction.
Besiege is developed by Spiderbomb Studios, a small indie team with a penchant for creating wonderfully absurd experiences. Launched on Steam Early Access in 2015, the game quickly gained a cult following thanks to its unique blend of creativity, problem-solving, and explosive mayhem. While still technically in Early Access (as of October 2023), Besiege has seen significant updates and improvements over the years, offering players a remarkably polished and engaging experience.
Building Your Besieging Behemoths
At its core, Besiege is a game about construction. You’ll be presented with various challenges that involve breaching castle walls, destroying towers, and taking down unsuspecting enemies. To achieve these goals, you must design and build your own siege engines using a surprisingly intuitive in-game editor.
The game boasts a wide array of building blocks, from simple wooden planks to powerful cannons, ballistas, and even jetpacks (yes, jetpacks!). Each component has its own unique properties, allowing for countless combinations and creative solutions. Want to build a trebuchet that launches flaming cows? Go right ahead! Fancy constructing a giant mechanical spider with laser eyes? Why not!
Building in Besiege is both intuitive and challenging. The game employs a physics-based system, meaning your creations need to be structurally sound to function properly. This requires careful planning, experimentation, and a healthy dose of trial-and-error. Witnessing your contraption come to life (or spectacularly fail) is incredibly satisfying.
Conquering the Castle Challenges
Besiege doesn’t simply throw you into the fray with no guidance. The game features a series of increasingly complex levels, each presenting a unique siege scenario. You might be tasked with destroying a fortified gatehouse, launching projectiles at enemy archers, or even clearing a minefield (hopefully without blowing yourself up in the process!).
Successfully completing a challenge earns you gold, which can then be used to unlock new building components and upgrades. As you progress through the levels, the challenges become more intricate and demanding, requiring increasingly sophisticated designs and clever engineering solutions.
Beyond the Sandbox: Community Creations and Multiplayer Mayhem
Besiege’s sandbox nature extends beyond its single-player campaign. The game boasts a vibrant online community that actively shares their creations and participates in various challenges and competitions. Browsing through the Steam Workshop reveals a treasure trove of user-generated contraptions, ranging from the practical to the downright ludicrous.
For those seeking a more social experience, Besiege offers a multiplayer mode where you can team up with friends or challenge other players in head-to-head siege battles. The game’s physics engine lends itself beautifully to multiplayer mayhem, leading to hilarious moments of destruction and unexpected outcomes.
A Game for All (Well, Almost)
While Besiege is undoubtedly a creative and entertaining experience, it’s not without its quirks. The game’s learning curve can be steep at times, particularly for players unfamiliar with physics-based sandbox games. Mastering the intricacies of building stable and functional contraptions requires patience, experimentation, and a willingness to embrace failure.
Table 1: Pros and Cons of Besiege
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Extremely creative and fun | Steep learning curve |
Endless possibilities for design | Physics engine can be unforgiving at times |
Active online community | Limited single-player campaign content |
Hilarious multiplayer mayhem | Some graphical limitations |
Overall, Besiege is a highly recommended experience for players who enjoy tinkering, problem-solving, and embracing the chaotic side of gaming. If you’re looking for a game that will challenge your creativity, test your engineering skills, and leave you with a smile (and perhaps a few frustrated sighs), look no further than Besiege.
Just remember to wear your safety goggles!